Wichita eagle., 1887-04-13
scamper away. He was funny looking


too mad to enjoy the comic aspect of the
matter. 1t struck me that if the brute
caught me in the dark he would make an
end of me in no time. 1t was both horri-
BILE and humiliating. such death in the
tangled forests of this savage land. Just
then 1 saw q short distance off in clear
ing square adobe hut. Here was shell
ter and protection.
| I was not much disappointed to find the
| hut uninhabited. 1t was strongly built,
| with no windows and one entrance from
| which the door had long since rOtted away.
! A step ladder led to loft. Ascending l
| found small apartment dimly lighted
| by round holes in the wall which had evil
| IDENTIFY been used by sharpshoOters at some
revolutionary period in the history of the
country. My mind was made up in an
| instant. / went back to my mustang and
| picketed him about hundred yards from
the hut in the bushes. Then returned
! to my fortress just as darkness closed in
| upon me and sought refuge in the loft,
| pulling up the ladder after me. I was
| safe here, even from the monkey, and
| lay down feeling a sense of perfect
| security.
1t must have been late in the night when
heard something moving in the room
under me. Looking through the opening
in the floor could see nothing. Istruck
match and by the Pickering fame recog-
nized the monkey. The wretch still wore
my coat, and in the dim, uncertain light
his appearance was more repulsive than
ever | lay down again, knowing that
the beast could not get into the loft, and
commenced planning for his destruction
in the morning. | was satisfied that the
animal belonged to O species Of mountain
apes, of great strength and terrible
ferocity. Their cunning had heard was
almost human, and they did not scruple
to attack men and rend them limb from
limb. l concluded when the morning
light appeared to draw the brute's atten-
ton and shoot him in one of the eyes.
Z Having settledon this plan. was about
dropping into u doze when heard voices
outside the hut. l listened with alert
ears.
IF, as you say, Pedro, that this Ameri-
can devil is inside, we should ambush him
and shoot him when he comes out in the
morning"
Now, by all the saints, Juan" was
the reply Of Pedro, ''you are a cowardly
fool. The American devil like all his
devils of countryl:ian, has his eyes open
anu may tSeG tilc drop on us.
I understood it AL. recognized the
voices. Pedro and Juan had followed me
all the way from Jackson S camp.
What to do was the question. 1t was
hard to decide, and / waited further de-
velopments.
The two robbers conversed in low wflis-
pers, and all / could hear was their final
agreement to rush ia and overpower me-
-Iot = <lo
monkey / said to myself, with chuckle
II hear the American moving" said
Pedro
1t was the monkey The monster was
walking in a circle all the time, and the
dead leaves that had drifted into the hut
rustled under his feet.
There was another whispered consu1ta-
ton and the Mexicans rushed into the
room below.
The outlaws saw a huge dark form and
made charge with their long, murde rous
knives.
l heard two duh thuds and knew that
Pedro and Juan had been dashed head
long against the walls.
Mother OF Jesus!'' gasped Juan,
"knife him you son Of Satan.''
''Fooln' cried Pedro, ''knife him your
selfr'
The robbers made another rush.
Thousand devilsr yelled Pedro,
''where are you, Juan? This hog of an
American has me by the throat and
have lost nay knife"
He IS a demon groaned Juan; she is
pounding my head against the WALTZ
\ volley OF eaths followed and then a
chorus of groans. Through it all l heard
h. Il -;l1
prevailed and | knew that all was over
My last match was gone but to my
great delight it was nearly morning.
With the first rays of daylight peered
through the hole in the floor.
1t was ghastly sight that met my gaze.
The two MeXicans lay on the floor quite
dead. Their heads had been mashed to a
jelly against the adobe walls and their
Threats bore dark blue mark.
Sitting i'll the corner was the monkey.
He was bleeding profusely and was evil
IDENTIFY seriously hurt. At first thought
that | would spare him. He had saved
my life and felt grateful. But when
fixed the ladder and descended the un-
tameable beast prepared himself for a
spring and there was such evident malice
in his eyes that drew bead and fired.
One shot did the work. He rolled over
dead.
It was no place for me after such an adj
venture and at once went in search of
my mustang To my great Joy my faith
full steed was all right and was soon in
the saddle and on my way to Aspinwall.
Depositing Jackson s money in the bank
when Iarrived Immediately boarded the
steamer / knew that it would not be
prudent to speak Of my affair with the
two Nexicaps, and had suspicion that
q statement of the part the monkey had
borne in the tragedy would be regarded
by the authorities as cock and bull
story. So | wisely kept my mouth shut
until was again under my own flag and
among my own countrymen.
OF course have never wasted any re-
grets on Pedro and Juan, but still hold
my horrible friend, the monkey, in CRATE
full esteem--Wallace p. Reed in Atlanta
Constitution.
A Preventive to Consumption.